Why Do I Need Mountain Bike Shoes?
When riding, your bike and body work together as a biomechanical machine to take you places. One of the critical factors in this combination is the interface between your feet and pedals. All the energy from your bowl of breakfast oatmeal gets transferred and turned into forward movement via this small contact patch. You want this to happen as efficiently, safely, and comfortably as possible. And most of all, you do not want your foot to slip off the pedal on any gnarly downhills! So, what makes Leatt flat Mountain Bike shoes exceptional and ideally suited to accomplish all the above in style? Well, there are a lot of unique characteristics and features built into each pair. Below, we list some of the most important ones:
First, Safety
Additional TPU reinforcement around the toe area as well as a moulded heel shield, offer added protection. The 3.0 and 4.0 in the range also come with added inside-ankle protection.
Second, Efficiency
A more rigid sole means better power transfer to the pedals and higher pedalling efficiency.
Thirdly, Grip
The soles on our clip Mountain Bike shoes are made from a highly grippy material. Moreover, we also specifically designed the tread pattern of each model to work in conjunction with your bike pedals to provide all the grip where and when you need it.
Fourthly, Durability
Our flat Mountain Bike shoes have been engineered inside and out for maximum tear, puncture, and abrasion resistance.
When developing the perfect range of Mountain Bike shoes, we also considered many other important factors, such as weather conditions and breathability, to name but a few.
Comfort and Fit
Our entire range of MTB clip Mountain Bike shoes offers a secure and surprisingly comfortable fit right from the first time you put them on. As a result, this assists in making you more confident and faster on your bike. After slipping on a pair of Leatt MTB shoes, you will notice several things straight away. Your entire foot will feel secure and supported without being an uncomfortably tight fit. Secondly, your toe arch will also feel braced and snug.
You will notice the rigidity in the sole. Of course, different models in the range have different levels of flex in the sole, depending on the type of pedalling and riding we designed them for. Fourthly, you will notice how stable and anchored your heel feels at the back of the shoe. This is due to the directional heel grip lining, which allows easy foot entry but then grips your ankle for superior retention while pedalling. Finally, you will notice how easily and solidly our clip Mountain Bike shoe laces up, whether via a pair of extra-grippy, traditional laces or our fast and secure ATOP lace system.
Also worth mentioning here are the sanitary advantages. A breathable mesh construction allows for great temperature regulation and quick drying, while the anti-odour materials used also offer active carbon moisture-wicking and anti-bacterial benefits.
Mountain Bike Shoes That Can Handle the Pressure
Naturally, they wouldn’t be worthy of the Leatt logo if we hadn’t added our usual paradigm-shifting technology and designs into every pair. So, just what goes into making every pair of Leatt MTB flat Mountain Bike shoes exceptional? We’ll mention the highlights below. The rest will be up to you to discover on the trails.
- The secret rubber recipe used for our soles is like your grandma’s hot sauce; better than anyone else’s! The unique production method offers an incredible ride grip for ultimate bike control in all weather conditions.
- Our soles of the clip Mountain Bike shoe also feature a very practical waffle grip pattern. Consequently, the pins on your pedals can dig into these waffles, adding additional grip.
- The sole also features mud channels, which effectively guide mud off the soles. As a result, you are not constantly in contact with your pedals or the ground.
- True to Leatt's form, we offer more adjustability in the cleat position. You will, therefore, be able to find the perfect cleat position, whether that’s further forward for a more power-orientated ride or farther back for more aggressive gravity riding.
Clipless MTB Shoes
Clipless pedal Mountain Bike shoes are a trendy option, and riders use them for every type of riding, from downhill to cross-country. The biggest benefit to clipless shoes is that you are “locked into” the bike. As a result, whether going down rough and rocky terrain or over flats at higher speeds, your feet stay anchored to the pedals. Furthermore, clipless Mountain Bike shoes reduce strain on your Achilles' muscles while providing additional comfort and control.
The closure mechanisms on clipless Mountain Bike shoes vary from laces to Velcro straps to ratcheting buckles. The Leatt ATOP lacing system, on the other hand, uses turning dials, and traditional laces are replaced by thin stainless steel wire. This system allows for fast and secure shoe closure and single-hand micro adjustments as you ride.
The soles of our clipless Mountain Bike shoes are extremely stiff, allowing for maximum power transfer and, consequently, greater pedalling efficiency. Furthermore, our extended SPD channels allow for greater adjustability, meaning greater control for all types of riding. Finally, we have reinforced our MTB shoes in key areas to ensure protection and extended product life.
Overall, our clipless MTB shoes' shape, fit, and construction are ideal for trail, all-mountain, and enduro riding.
Flat MTB Shoes
This type of shoe is the preferred choice for many off-road riders. Flat pedal Mountain Bike shoes have a flat platform without binding to anything. As a result, they rely on the pedal's metal pins to hold the grippy sole in place. Then, the grippier the sole, the more secure and confident you will be on your bike.
For this reason, we have developed a secret rubber formula, which we dubbed the RideGrip™ compound. The RideGrip rubber, in combination with the sole's waffle pattern design, gives our riders the unparalleled grip and control that’s become synonymous with Leatt’s flat Mountain Bike shoes.
Additionally, our flats feature a medium-stiff sole, which means the flat Mountain Bike shoe is comfortable on and off the bike. Finally, the padded tongue, raised inner padded side wall, and toe and heel protection make this shoe a solid choice for tough enduro and downhill riding.